PING

The sound of elevator ringing as it reached the ground floor. Inside the lift, Amaryl walks out with a tired countenance. Amaryl would never have thought that she, of all people, will let one of the Ten Paladins sleep in her room, or rather, suite.

She doesn’t know if fate is trying to humor with her or something but, Esser who is the Seventh of the Paladins, have actually no place to stay and has been wandering in the city since they arrived last Sunday. Seyren, on the other hand, said that he will be crashing at someone’s place.

As such, Esser is still sleeping back in her room, curled up on a warm bed with a food already served on the table. Amaryl needs to leave because she still has a class to attend.

Her interaction with Esser is only limited to essentials like eating, bathing, and sleeping. After that, she never saw Esser wakes up again and led herself to a deep slumber.

Esser’s imposing upon is actually nothing of a bother since Amaryl lives alone in Brent City. She originally came from Ehon City, a place where precious metals and rocks are mined. Her family is one of the major Trading Corporations for all-around sets of mined goods essential for a city’s construction and expensive jewelry and much more.

As a Serensis who are naturally gifted in magic, the Helion Family is known to be expert Earth Elementalists, whether as a Magus or as another profession. They pride themselves on their vast knowledge of metallurgy.

Serensis has three major subspecies in which magic proficiency is divided equally. The first one is those who are truly adept at using magical energy as means of offense. Such potential isn’t wasted since it can also branch out to another profession in the working field. Their physical characteristics don’t stray from a normal human, however, they have pointed ears that shows a clear distinction between the two. They are called Serensis Ser.

The second one is stout but large in frame. Their magic is deeply ingrained as physical enhancement and solely relies on Earth Magic’s fundamental manipulation of stones. They are the famous for their crafts. Unlike the Serensis Ser, this subspecies is commonly known to be intrinsically dextrous in handling metal. They are called Serensis Ren.

Lastly, the subspecies of Serensis that coexists not with the rapid growing civilization but with the very essence of nature. They size up to half of a normal human height and unlike the Serensis Ser and Serensis Ren, they have wings that as clear as the sky. In hindsight, they are the best agricultural farmer and has vast knowledge about crops and other grown plants and trees. They are Serensis Sis and even among all of the races, the Serensis Sis is one of the hardest and delicate race to cross marriage with because of their difference in stature, or always mistaken as a child which leads to imprisonment for that partner, temporarily.

That said, Amaryl is a Serensis Ser, however, in contrast to her family’s elemenal affinity, she is much talented with water magic. Despite that, it posed no hate to anyone from her lineage, in fact, because she is an offspring of Serensis hailing from specializing earth magic, he proficiency with water magic greatly diverges.

Her Water Magic has deviated into Ice Magic.

One may deem that Ice Magic as nothing more than a phenomenon of freezing water or bringing its temperature below zero degrees, for Amaryl, using Ice Magic is nothing more than a normal walk while most people need to study complex structure of the Ice Magic to use it efficiently.

Her popularity as the daughter of the Helion Family, one of the largest company that works with metal trading, is further boosted as she showed her strong and undaunted power of ice last year in the state competition.

Sadly, she was beaten in the semi-finals by Alisa Hertuclaire.

But that day, she was also labeled as the Frigid Princess, a title worthy of someone who uses Ice Magic effortlessly and in sync with her heavy armor.

But alas, the very same Frigid Princess is troubled right now due to being late for her class.

“This is bad! I shouldn’t have attempted waking Lady Esser up! She didn’t even budge when I shake her whole body!” Amaryl said to herself as she runs past the pedestrian. Because she lives in the Business District where her suite is located, meeting with a crowd of people early morning is nothing new for her.

The bustling city is busy as people walk all over the place trying to go to their respective works. Incidentally, Amaryl’s running figure catches every male’s attention as something bounces violently. Her hair which she painstakingly rolled into a croissant sways left and right.

CREAK

“What was that?!” Amaryl exclaimed as she heard something as she stopped in her tracks. She immediately looked left and right but found nothing.

However, she immediately knew what’s up as soon as people started panicking and shouting.

“No way!” Amaryl shouted as she saw in one of the towering building, a huge billboard falls off. The place where the billboard will fall is a little far from her, however, she knew that few people couldn’t react and escape hastily.

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She immediately noticed an Elderly woman who fell down struggles to stand up, however, she won’t be able to escape in time.

“Ma’am!” Amaryl burst from the ground and created an ice path in which she skated to boosts her speed. She maneuvered the ice path with a ramp and flung herself towards the old woman.

“Young lady, thank you…but…” The old woman spoke, however, her head gazes above them.

Amaryl knew that the huge billboard won’t give mercy to her even if she builds an Ice Shield now. She then created another ice path towards a safe spot, however, knowing that if she tried to move with the old woman on her arms, they would most likely still get crushed, so at that moment.

“Go!” Amaryl slides the old woman on the ice path by putting all of her strength in her arms. A crucial delay that rendered her unable to escape.

As the huge billboard inches very close to her, she just closed her eyes for her impending doom.

BAM!

Amaryl never felt the impact crushing her, in fact, all she can feel right now is two arms cradling her gently. It was not robust or rough, it was something like thin and frail befitting for a girl.

Amaryl slowly opens her eyes and is met with a quizzical glare. The one who is holding her above the ground effortlessly is Esser who should have been asleep back in her suite.

“L-Lady Esser?!” Amaryl shouted.

“Un, you did well. You are brave and a good girl.” Esser simply said.

“You save me…? I mean thank you!” Amaryl, in shocked, immediately recomposes herself and expresses her gratitude.

“Un, you provided me with a warm bed and delicious food. I’ll look forward to those. In return, I’ll protect you.” Esser said.”

“Wait, you mean to say that you will live with me?” Amaryl frantically asked.

“Un, I’m definitely sure Amaryl is a good girl. And also, I like your scent and your taste.” Esser said as she suddenly sniffs on Amaryl’s neck and licks it.

“Hyaauuh! L-Lady Esser?! Please stop! And also, please put me down! People are watching!” Amaryl shouted as she swings her feet and hand to break free from Esser’s princess carry.

“Ah, okay. You need to go to school after all…and…I don’t do well with crowds.” Esser said as she noticed the people surrounding them.

She set Amaryl down and bashfully covers her face with the beret again.

“You should go now. I’ll return to your room or go to Meld to annoy him. I bet the others are also wandering around the city or going for a tour of the academy. Bye.” Esser informed Amaryl before disappearing in plain sight.

“Wah?! Fast!” Amaryl exclaimed as her figure disappears without a trace. Even the surrounding people are shaken by Esser’s sudden disappearance.

Even though she is one of the Ten Paladins, Esser is the least known of the members as she easily shies away from a crowd.

“Ah…I’m late…” Amaryl said as she takes a look at her phone with a saddened tone. “Well, in the end, what caused that billboard to fall anyway?” Amryl asked a question to herself.

Meanwhile, Reed and Alisa just met up at their usual place.

Seemingly unburdened by what he felt yesterday, Reed greeted Alisa with his usual refreshing tone. Alisa in return, pouted as she complained about how Reed always come haphazardly laid back.

Together, they walk beneath the dazzling sun.

“It sure feels weird without Sig now…” Alisa comes out first before Reed could actually say it himself.

“I’ve made up my mind, Alisa. I’ll talk to Headmaster about this. I know it’s a little inconvenient for him but I just can’t let it stay like this.” Reed said in a serious tone.

“I see. If I’m with you, I’m pretty confident that it will work out considering I myself can actually feed and care for him financially.” Alisa bluntly said.

“Now you’re making it sound like I am tragically poor.” Reed exclaimed with troubled yet playful smile.

“That’s not what I meant but if you feel that way, I’m sorry.” Alisa extended her apology.

“Yeah, yeah, Alisa is a bad girl.” Reed said teasingly with a smile towards Alisa.

“Don’t get too full of yourself. Once our vacation starts, I’ll continue training myself so I can defeat you. I’ll challenge you again in this year’s state competition too.” Alisa glared at Reed while saying so.

“Yeah, I’ll wait for you. That’s a promise.” Reed’s sincere words made Alisa’s ears twitch.

“Do you easily give out promises like that? I was just wondering if you ever liked a girl. Do you? We’ve been friends for a year now but this is the first time I am asking this.” Alisa inquired with sharpened eyes.

“Someone I like…?” Alas, Reed started shuffling his mind just to be met with Alisa’s smiling countenance from yesterday. Remembering how he felt that time, his face burns up a little.

“N-No! I-I don’t like anyone! I mean I’m still not romantically in love with anyone!” Reed gave a denial that made Alisa a little curious but knows better when to stop.

As such, their walk is filled with teasing and light banter with no personal harm. They pass the time walking together and before they knew it, they arrived at their classroom, however, they found no traces of Sigrun.

“Hmm, it seems Sig is still not here.” Reed muttered as he moves his sight left and right.

“That’s weird. We always arrive here ten minutes earlier before the homeroom starts.” Alisa said was with knitted brows.

“Alisa…I might know where he is…” Reed told Alisa with a pale countenance.

“The way your face shows it…don’t you mean…” Alisa, upon immediately realizing it, started sweating profusely too.

“How does Sig wake up in the morning?” Reed asked while trying to compose his self.

“The maids…comes and wake him up. I presume that it goes the same with you, right?” Alisa gulped as she threw the question back at Reed.

“Oh no…” Reed only uttered as she locks gaze with Alisa.

Momentary silence filled the space around them…

Then suddenly…

“Let’s break for it!” Reed shouted as he started sprinting.

“You said it! Do you still remember where is Sigrun living?!” Alisa asked as she tried to keep up with Reed’s sprint.

“Yeah! Apparently, he lives in the school district northwest! We can still make it if we bring Sig along with his uniform!” Reed said something unbelievable but Alisa couldn’t point it out anymore as she struggles to run together with Reed.

At that time, their hunch is proven right.

At a small house that at first looks normal, has an extravagant furniture and intricate architectural design in the northwest of the school district, Sigrun now lives.

Complete with high-end utility technology which is electricity base, the whole place could only spell someone rich living in a cramped house.

In the bedroom where the design is simple with wooden floor and painted white walls with sufficient pieces of furniture like cabinet and desk, Sigrun lies naked in the bed while breathing softly covered with white sheet. However, under the cover of the white sheet also lies Emeralda who is also naked and clinging to Sigrun’s torso.